Designed by Mossad: The untold story of pagers that turned Israeli bombs

Pager explosion

Last month, the world was stunned by the explosion of thousands of booby-trapped Hezbollah pagers and hundreds of radios, resulting in the deaths of dozens connected to the Iran-backed group. The attacks have been widely attributed to Israel and are believed to be part of a daring intelligence operation.

According to an exclusive report from The Washington Post, Israel’s Mossad covertly introduced these pagers into Hezbollah's ranks, ensnaring the militant group in a deadly trap that could shift the dynamics of the Middle East conflict.

Two years ago, Mossad identified a vulnerability within Hezbollah, a group known for its secrecy and paranoia. They capitalized on Hezbollah's need for secure communication by presenting a seemingly ideal solution.

The AR924 pager, though slightly bulky, was built to withstand harsh battlefield conditions. With its waterproof design and an oversized battery that lasted for months without charging, it provided Hezbollah a reliable means of communication, free from the worry of Israeli interception.

Little did Hezbollah know that these devices were rigged with explosives, effectively turning them into lethal traps for their users. In February, Hezbollah leaders purchased 5,000 of these pagers and distributed them among mid-level fighters and support personnel, who had no idea they were carrying devices that would ultimately serve as Israeli bombs.

The operation reached its peak on September 17, when Mossad remotely triggered the pagers, leading to explosions that killed or injured as many as 3,000 Hezbollah members, primarily those not engaged in frontline combat. This unprecedented act of espionage has been described by experts as one of the most innovative penetrations of an enemy by an intelligence agency in recent history, the report mentioned.

Details about the operation, including its planning and execution, have slowly come to light through interviews with Israeli, US, and Middle Eastern officials familiar with the events. The operation, which had been in the works for years, involved a web of operatives and accomplices across multiple countries.

According to The Washington Post, the pagers were sold to Hezbollah through a marketing official with connections to a Taiwanese company that manufactured them. This individual, unaware of the true nature of the operation, marketed the AR924 as the ideal communication tool for Hezbollah. Last year, Hezbollah received unsolicited offers for the pagers, which bore no links to Israeli interests.

Mossad had previously infiltrated Hezbollah by introducing booby-trapped walkie-talkies into Lebanon starting in 2015, according to The Washington Post. These devices enabled Israeli intelligence to eavesdrop on Hezbollah communications, allowing them to monitor the group's activities for nearly a decade. With the rollout of the pagers, Mossad advanced their operation, creating a deadly Trojan horse.

The AR924 pagers featured a unique design: a hidden explosive concealed within the battery pack. This sophisticated setup was undetectable, even if the device was disassembled. Additionally, the pagers included a two-step encryption process requiring users to hold the device with both hands, ensuring they would be injured or incapacitated when the explosive detonated.

According to the newspaper, the decision to activate the devices came during a tense meeting on September 12, when Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu convened his intelligence advisers to discuss potential actions against Hezbollah. While acknowledging the risks of a retaliatory strike from Hezbollah or even Iran, Mossad argued that the operation offered an unprecedented opportunity to destabilize Hezbollah.

Ultimately, Netanyahu approved the plan, allowing Mossad to proceed with detonating the pagers at a time that would maximize their impact. Within days, pagers began vibrating or ringing across Lebanon and Syria, displaying the ominous message: “You received an encrypted message.” As Hezbollah operatives followed the instructions to check the messages, explosions erupted in homes, shops, and streets.

The following day, hundreds of previously placed walkie-talkies also detonated, compounding the chaos and confusion among Hezbollah’s ranks. Israeli airstrikes soon followed, targeting Hezbollah’s leadership and logistical centers. The culmination of these attacks led to the death of Hezbollah chief Hasan Nasrallah last month.